Related Articles

Anything south of Los Angeles in coastal California was previously considered "the suburbs" and delegated to orange groves, military bases or pathways to the Mexican border. Things have changed. The counties of Orange and San Diego are now home to some of the state's most heavily-visited tourist destinations. Theme parks, trendy beach boulevards and highly respected performing arts centers cater to both visitors and residents alike. Surfing competitions and television series have put both counties on the cultural map of the American landscape.

Theme Parks

The granddaddy of all theme parks happens to have been born in Orange County, in what was once the small town of Anaheim. As the original Disneyland park (disney.com), it started the craze of all-in-one themed rides and entertainment with elaborate sets and costumed mascots. The Disney corporation expanded its presence in 2001 with the adjacent California Adventure park, but Disney is by no means the only game in town now. Adventure City (adventurecity.com) is also in Anaheim, with a small-town atmosphere created by an old-fashioned carousel, petting farm and children's theater. Knotts Berry Farm (knotts.com) lies less than an hour away in Buena Park and the Legoland park in Carlsbad (legoland.com) features rides, attractions and a water park. Sea World (seaworld.com) draws tourists further south to San Diego where Shamu rocks the night away with a multimedia light and music show.

Beaches

Sun and sand worshipers in Orange County flock to beaches framing the Pacific Ocean from Huntington to Laguna. Once the stomping ground of diehard surfers only, Huntington Beach has transformed itself into the trendiest place to see-and-be-seen in the county. The pier juts into the ocean for 1,800 feet and is constantly filled with strollers, fishermen and rollerskaters, with a popular fifties diner-style cafe at the end. Main Street extends the parade of people onto sidewalk cafes and surf shops, adjacent to the beach which comes alive at night with bonfires. Laguna Beach is a smaller, more exclusive waterfront community with cliffs dropping dramatically into the water, volleyball tournaments drawing thousands, and a vibrant arts scene. Follow the coastline south to San Diego and the beaches are less crowded, with a family atmosphere that includes quirky events such as the arrival of Surfin' Santa at Seaport Village during the Christmas season.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Originally settled by Spanish missionaries in 1775 as an attempt to expand the territorial boundaries of Spain and convert the Native peoples to Christianity, Mission San Juan Capistrano has fortunately preserved this part of the state's heritage. The Historic Serra Chapel remains a place of inspiration to thousands of visitors who pass through the stone doorways every year and roam through adjoining structures of adobe-preserved architecture. Guided tours by docents in period attire guide visitors through 10 acres of museum rooms and exhibits, or a separate garden tour can be arranged in the mornings. Self-guided tours save on the price of admission, and audio tours feature storytelling, music and history in six different languages. A summer concert series takes place on Saturdays with picnic dining and dancing to live music in the Mission courtyard.

Old Globe Theater

San Diego's flagship arts institution for more than 75 years still draws crowds of all ages to experience the dramas, traumas and comedies of the world's favorite storyteller. The Old Globe Theater brings the pages of Shakespeare to life every summer with full theatrical productions. In addition to Shakespeare, a myriad of plays and musicals revolve between three stages year round, including a popular rendition of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" With a choice spot in Balboa Park, arts enthusiasts can take in a play, then stroll to one of two museums on either side: the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Man.

Resources

About the Author

Wendy K. Leigh is a travel writer and photojournalist from Seattle. She is the Editor of Islands America, a travel website for visiting islands within the United States. She also writes about home design, food and historical architecture. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

Photo Credits

Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images

Cite this ArticleA tool to create a citation to reference this article Cite this Article

Choose Citation Style

K., Wendy. "Things to Do in Orange County & San Diego County, California." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-orange-county-san-diego-county-california-58570.html. Accessed 14 August 2018.

K., Wendy. (n.d.). Things to Do in Orange County & San Diego County, California. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-orange-county-san-diego-county-california-58570.html

K., Wendy. "Things to Do in Orange County & San Diego County, California" accessed August 14, 2018. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/things-orange-county-san-diego-county-california-58570.html

Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.